Hedge-trimmer.



J. SCHAEFFER.

HEDGE TRIMMER.

APPLICATION man Ausl 18. 1911.

' I., v lNvEN-rcaf WITNEssEs Jseglse 6 ATTORNEY J. SCHAEFFER.

HEDGE TRIMMER.

APPLICATION min Aue.18, 1911.

l ,262@393. Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JESSEE SCHAEEFER, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

HEDGE-TRIMIVIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rarement ape. a, reis.

Application filed August 18, 1917. Serial No. 187,008.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Jnssun SGHAEFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Hedge-'Primmer,A of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a hedge trimmer, and has for its primary object to provide a machine of this character, vwherein the cutter can be readily and convenientlyadjusted for the true cutting of the hedge, either at the top thereof or at its sides with despatch, the cutter being readily adjustable with accuracy so as to assure the trimming of the hedge at any desirable height and for presenting dierent designs or configurations thereto.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character wherein the same can be manually pushed along the hedge, so that the latter can beproperly trimmed in an even and uniform manner' without excessive labor on the part of the operator of the machine.

The invention, furthermore, has for an additional object to improve machines of the indicated character, in varyingparticulars, to the end that efiiciency in operation may be promoted, as well as simplicity .in construction and convenience of adjustment and control. v

rihe invention will be particularly eX- plained in the specific description following:

Reference is to be had to the accompany drawing forming part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hedge trimming machine constructed in accordance with the invention, a portion of the wheel plate thereof being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in vertical transverse section showing by full lines a portion of the cutter in horizontal position, and by dotted lines in vertical position.

3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view showing a portion of the cutter in top plan.

Fig. L is a fragmentary detail enlarged elevation of the adjustable mounting of the cutter.

ln constructing a practical embodiment of the invention inaccordance with the illustrated example, the traction wheel A is provided, oreferably comprising a rim 10 and a solid disk-like web llwhich constitutes the body of said wheel, the rim 10 being formed with an external roughened tread 12 to prevent the slipping of the wheel when traveling upon a foundation or the ground. The rim 10 is formed at its inner periphery with teeth 13 constituting an internal gear,

while the web 1l centrally thereof is formed' withY ai hub 14: through which is passed the center stub aXle 15 for the wheel A, the axle being also passed through the angular side members 16 of a combined handle bar and trail frame '13, the members being secured at their upper ends to a handle bar 17 whichv carries the cross handles 18 as usual,`while the lower ends of the member 16 are suitably slotted to adjustably receive the stub axles 19 of trailing rollers 20 which are journaled upon said axles and project laterally from opposite` sides of the frame rearwardly of the wheel A.

In the open side of the wheel A, or iitted in the hollow portion thereof, is a circular or dislrslike wheel plate or cheek 21 which is formed centrally thereof with a hub 22 to encircle the stub axle 15 and corresponds with the hub 111 of the wheel A, the wheel plate or cheek 21 being formed near its periphery with an arcuate shaped slot 23 in which is adjustably mounted a securing bolt 24 which is engaged and carried in one of.

the members 16 of the frame B, so that in this manner said frame can be readily adf justed to vary the angular disposition of the handle bar 17, as will be clearly obvious.

Riveted, or otherwise fixed to the wheel plate or cheek 21 forwardly of the pivotal axis of the trail frame B, is a standard or upright 25 which is of the required length, and at its upper end is formed with an outturned ear 2G at right angles thereto for1ning a bearing for a driven shaft 27 which extends into and at its lower end is journaled interiorly of a gear casing. 28,A which is mounted upon the wheel plate or cheek 21 to inclose a pinion 29 loosely mounted upon the shaft 27 and meshing with a bevel gear 30 which is housed within said casing. 28, and is hxed to a stub shaft 31 journaled transversely in a stub bearing 32 formed on theinner face of the wheel plate or cheek 21. The stub shaft 31 is also fitted or formed with a cog gear which meshes with the internal gear 13 on the traction wheel A, so that on rotation ofthe latter, motion will be imparted to the shaft' 27. The pinion 29 is fitted with a ratchet pin 3a which enga-ges ina ratchet collar 35 pinned or otherwise secured to the shaft 27, so that on the rotation of the pinion 29 in one direction, it will automaticallyv lock with the collar 35 for the positive rotation of the shaft 27 from the traction wheel A, but on reverse rotation of the traction wheel A, the shaft 27 will remain passive, the pinion 29, ratchet pin 3l and ratchet collar 35 being clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing.

Slidably mounted upon the upright or standard 25 is an adjustable head comprisingside plates 36 which are bolted or otherwise secured together and have formed thereon guide cleats 37 which engage with the upright or standard 25, as clearly shown in;v Fig3 of the drawing, and mounted be tween these plates 36 are vertically spaced cross straps or bearings 38 between which is located a spiral gear 39, the same being splined or keyed for longitudinal.sliding movement on the shaft 27 which extends through the bearings 38, Vso that said head is readily adjustable upon the upright or standard. 25.

lllleshing with the spiral gear 39vis a spiral threaded wheel 40 which is fixed to a stud' shaft ll1 journaled in the platesBG ofthe head transversely thereof. Swingingly supported upon the stud shaft l1 of the wheel 40 is the adjustable cutter, which comprises a finger bar a2 and the sickle or cutter bar 43, which. is suitably mounted for reciprocation upon the linger bar 42,'and1this cutter may be either straight or of arcuate formation for the cutting or trimming ofthe Vhedge into variable designs. Theinner end of the hnger bar l2 is formed with a circular shaped hinge ear la which is rotatably supported on the stud shaft 41, andthe periphery of this ear is formed at intervals withnotches 45 for the engagement inl any one of the same of.- a hand-operated lock- 4:6, so that the cutter can be secured in various angular positions, or perpendicular, or horizontal as occasion may require when cutting ahedge.

Secured to the stud shaft l1 atene side of the spiral wheel il() is an eccentric i7 ein bracedby the eccentric strap i8 formed with a pitman or throw-arm 19 which is pivotally connectedl at 50 to the sickle or cutter bar 13, so that on rotation of the eccentric the cutter bar will be actuated for the re` ciprocation thereof upon the linger bar 1-2 for the cutting of a hedge, either at the sides thereof or at the top of the same. The cutter extends laterally from one side 0f the upright or standard 25, the ear 441 being. stamped or otherwise marked with suitable scale numerals 51 to' enable the operator to determine with accuracy the adjustment of the cutter.v

Carried by the head and mountedl inthe plates 36 thereof is a manually operable cam lock 52vwhich is thrown into'andbutl of engagement with the upright or standard for" the locking" or unlocking ofthe head thereon, so that the' cutter in this manner can be vertically adjusted toany desirable height.

Suitably'connectcd to thehead at' one of the plates thereof is a raising" and lowering cable 53v which is adapted to be secured to and'wound on and from one of the handles 18 which constitutes a windlass therefor, so that the cutter and its head can be conveniently vertically adjusted orsrai'sed and lowered at the optihn of the operator of thema'- chine', it being understood, of course, that the handles 184 are rotatably supported'upon the handlebar 17 in the usual" well' known manner.

rlhe cable 53 is trained through a guide deviceV 511 on the" ear26 of thestandard 25 so that onthe'winding'of the cableupon the handle 18 by rotating" the latter, the head will be raised on the-said standard and upon the unwindingo'fthe'cable from'said handle in the' same manner, the'head will vbe lowered upon the standard thereby adjusting the heightv of the cutter to meet the demand inproperly cutting the hedge.

Thus, it willy be observed 'that the cutterV maybe readily adjusted: and controlled to .cut either one side ofa hedge, fromtop to bottom, or cut quite across the top of the hedge from sidek to sidethereof, and the ad'- justment of the' cutter is under the complete control'of the operator of the machine, and, furthermore, the hedge can be trimmed tov present various designs:y or contour thereto when the machine is active.

Frein the foregoingit isthought that the construction andthe manner of the operation ofthe machine will be clearly understood, and, therefore, more extended expla-L nation will 'beomitted The' construction shownherein is the preferred embodiment of the invention, but I dofnot' wish to be limited to the form; size` proportion and minor details of construction as such changes may be made in the'in'vvention, in the particulars mentioned, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. A hedge trimmin machine comprising a single traction whee a trailer frame adjustably supported upon said wheel, and having trailing rollers at opposite sides of the frame, a handle bar on said frame for manually propellin the machine, a standard supported vertically lforwardly of the frame at one side of the wheel, a head adjustable on the standard, a cutter adjustably connected to the head, and connections between the traction wheel and the cutter for operating the latter and driven bythe wheel exteriorly thereof.

2. A hedge trimming machine comprising a traction wheel, a trailer frame adjustably supported upon said wheel, and having trailing rollers, a handle bar on said frame for manually propelling the machine, a standard supported forwardly of the frame,

a head adjustable on the standard, a cutter adjustably connected to the head, connections between the traction wheel and the cutter for operating the latter, and means extending from the head to the handle bar for raising and lowering the head.

3. A hedge trimming machine comprising a single traction wheel, a frame on which said wheel is journaled, trailing means, a handle bar on said frame for manually propelling the machine, a vertical standard, a head vertically adjustable on the standard, a

cutter connected to the head, and driving connections between the'traction wheel and the cutter for operating the latter.

4.-. A hedge trimming machine comprising a single traction wheel, a frame on which said wheel is journaled, trailing rollers mounted on opposite sides of the vertical plane of the said wheel, a handle bar on said frame for manually propelling the machine,- a vertical standard, a head vertically adjustable on the standard, a cutter carried by said head, a vertical shaft arranged alongside said standard, and driving gear connections between the traction wheel, the shaft and said cutter.

5. In a hedge trimming machine, a traction wheel, a trailing frame having the traction wheel journaled therein, a wheel plate supported upon the journal of the traction wheel, and tted within the latter, a vertical standard fixed to the wheel plate, a gear casing carried by the plate, a vertical shaft journaled on the standard and said gear casing, gear connections between the shaft and said traction wheel, a head slidable on the standard, a spiral` gear supported in the head and slidably keyed to the shaft, a spiral wheel journaled in the head and meshing with the spiral gear, a cutter swingingly supported on the head, and ectraction wheel, and tted within thelatter,

a standard fixed tothe wheel plate, a gear casing carried by the plate, a vertical shaft journaled on thestandard and said -gear casing, gear connections between the shaft and the traction wheel, a head slidable on the standard, a spiral gear supported in the head and slidably keyed to the shaft, a

4spiral wheel ournaled in the head and meshing with the spiral gear, a cutter swingingly supported on the head, eccentricallyy operated connections between .the spiral wheel and the cutter for actuating the latter, a handle bar on the trailing frame, and raising and lowering means extending from the handle bar and connected with the h ead. j 7 A hedge trimming machine comprising a singletraction wheel, a frame provided with trailing rollers and having the traction wheelfjournaled therein, a wheel plate for the traction wheel, a vertical standard xed to the wheel plate, a cutter mounted on the standard, a vertical shaft arranged alongside the standard and driving gear connections between the traction wheel, the shaft and the cutter.

8. 1n a hedge trimming machine, the combination Vwith the traction wheel, a frame having the traction wheel j ournaled therein', a iixed vertically disposed standard, a vertical shaft journaled on the standard and` arranged alongside the same, gear connections between the shaft and the traction wheel, a head slidable onthe standard, a

spiral gear supported in the head andslid` ably keyed to the shaft, a spiral wheel journaled in the head and meshing with the spiral gear, a cutter swingingly supported on the head, and eccentrically operated connections between the spiral wheel and the cutter for actuating the latter.

9.. A hedge trimming machine comprising an internally toothed traction wheel, a frame having the wheel journaled therein, a ground roller carried by said frame, a plate for thev carried byth'e plate, ai vertical shaft journaled on-the'st'andard and saidg'ear casing, gear connections between the shaft andgthe traction wheel, ahead slidable on thestandard, a spiral gear support'ed'in then head andi slidably`r keyed to' the shaft, a spiral wheel? journaled in the head andmeshing with; the

spiral gear, a cutter swingingly supported? on the hea-d, eccentrically operated connections between the spiral wheel and the cut'- te'r 'oractuating the latter, a handlebar on the trailing frame, raising and lowering means extending from the handle barand-1 connected withl the head, trailing. rollers `tourna-'led on said frame, meansy for loclnng ard, a lspiral gear supported in the liead'andV slidably keyed to the shaft, a spiral wheel journaled inthe head and-meshing with the spiral gear, a cutter swingingly supported on the head, eocentrically operated connections between the spiral wheel and the cutter for actuating the latter, a handle bar on the trailing frame, raising and lowering means extending from the handle bar and connected with the head, trailing rollers journaled on said frame, means for securingrthe cutter in adjustedposition on theY head, means for locking the'head in adjusted position on the standard, and a one-way ratchet connection between the gearing and said shaft.

12. A hedge trimmer having a single traction wheel, a plate Xed in the wheel, ai

standard on the plate, a cutter having vertically sliding and swinging connection with the standard, and means for operating the cutter andy driven interiorly of said wheel.

13. A hedge trimming machine comprising a single traction wheel, a frame provided with trailing rollers and having the traction wheel journaled therein, a wheel plate for the traction wheel, a vertical standa'rd iiXed to the wheel plate,a.head slidable on the standard, a cutter connected to the head, and driving connections between the traction wheel and the cutter' for operating the latter.

14; Iirahedge trimming machine, a tracsupported uponf the journal ot the tractiony wheel, a vertical standard fixed' to the wheel plate, ageait cas-ing carried by the plate, a

verticallshaft j ournaledon the standard andk said gear casing', gear connections between' the shaft andthe traction wheel, a head slidable'on the standard, a spiral gear supported in the head and slidably keyed to theI shaft, a spiral wheel journaled in the head and meshing withy the spiral gear, a cutter swingingly supported on the head, and eccentrically operated connections between the spiral wheel and the cutter-tor actuatingthe latter. 15. In a hedge trimming'fmachine, a traction wheel, .al trailinev framehaving the traction wheel journaled therein, a wheel plate supported'fuponthe'journal of the traction wheel, a. vertical standard fixed tothe wheel plate,= a vertical shaft journaled on: the standard, gear connections between the shaft and the traction wheel, a head slidable on the standard, a cutter swingingly supported onz the head, and ahand operated lock tori securing; the cutterfor various p0- sitions.

16. A hedge trimming machine embodyingY a single traction wheel having an internal gear. with trailing rollers constituting the sole support ior the-machine andfmanually movable, the combination therewith of means for supporting a cutting mechanism at one side of: the'plane of said wheel in otlset' relation, and movable therewith and suiiciently high tofcut ahedge, and meansfor driving said cutting mechanism directly fromV the internal gear ofV said traction wheel.

17: In manuallypropelled hedge trimming. machine embodyingy a single traction wheel vwith trailingmeans disposed onV oppo-V In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JESSEE SGHAEFFER.

Vitnesses Iz.v S..Hoi PER, ROY N. SECHRIST.

Utri-ies' of this patenti-may be obtained for iiv'e cents each-'phy addressiifigv the Commissioner ofPatents,

Washngton'y-Dft. 

